The crucial role of Emotional Intelligence and Coaching skills

Being aware of others’ feelings and needs isn’t always as simple as we can think.

​In particular, if you are a teacher it can be very challenging to understand all students’ needs and to help them in the best way. Held from 6th to 12th of February, the course “Emotional intelligence and coaching skills” was conceived to train teachers on this matter: through various dynamic activities, they could develop their emotional intelligence (EI) and their coaching skills, gaining more understanding of their students in challenging situations and learning how to better support them in the decision-making process.
A fundamental step is to fully understand the tricky differences between these two figures: the coach and the teacher. A teacher is someone who transfers knowledge to grow students’ skills and abilities; on the other hand, a coach is someone who supports a coachee’s development by listening and posing the right questions.

Another main topic of this course is to deeper understand empathy, which is strictly linked to Emotional Intelligence. In fact, teachers were supposed to learn that every student is unique and has their own potential and that, in some cases, they can’t unleash it due to tough situations they come through. Not to forget that keeping improving oneself’s EI it’s crucial not only as a teacher but also as a person.
Concerning this point, teachers learned the key role of the questions in the coaching process. They had an exploration journey where they experienced how the different styles of question-posing can make a difference in the student’s response to an issue. So, teachers should guide their students in finding the solution more suited to the context, always keeping in mind that specific individual’s needs and potentials. The bottom line is to help students discover their own resources, not suggesting them but rather putting the focus on guiding them to find the solution. 

​At the end of this week full of dynamic learning (and city trips!), the teachers are proudly showing their certificates! Thanks to them for having contributed to enrichen this course!

​More info about this course at Emotional intelligence and coaching skills course for teachers (erasmustrainingcourses.com).

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